Popular local TV anchor signs off

SARASOTA — Lauren Dorsett, a popular TV news anchor for ABC 7 in the Sarasota-Bradenton market, will leave the station in November.

Dorsett, who has been with station since 2010, is resigning for personal reasons, the station says in a release, and she will to return to southern California, where she grew up. ABC 7 Good Morning Suncoast and ABC 7 News at Noon co-anchor Hayley Wielgus will replace Dorsett, according to the statement. In the new role Wielgus will co-anchor ABC 7 News at 5:00, 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. with Scott Dennis and will also anchor ABC 7 News at 11:00 p.m. Wielgus will also report on health news.

“Lauren has done a terrific job for ABC 7 over the past three and a half years, both as a journalist and with her many contributions to Suncoast community organizations,” ABC 7 General Manager Jeff Benninghoff says in the release. Benninghoff is also a vice president with Calkins Media, which owns ABC 7. “While we are sorry to see Lauren go, we are delighted to announce the well-deserved promotion of Hayley Wielgus to weeknight anchor.

The station further announced that Stephanie Roberts, who joined ABC 7 last month after working on a freelance basis, will take on a co-anchor role of the morning news program. Roberts will work alongside Don Brennan and Meteorologist John Scalzi.

Dorsett's last day at ABC 7 will be Nov. 27, the station says. Says Dorsett: “ABC 7 is a great station and I will truly miss working with all of the people here and in the community.”